The Statue of Liberty will soon reopen to the public – or, at least part of it will. Starting in July, visitors will be able to enter the pedestal’s 150-foot-high observation deck, but the interior of Lady Liberty herself will still be off-limits, officials announced yesterday.

“We’re proceeding cautiously with the safety of citizens and the preservation of that wonderful statue as our goal,” Interior Secretary Gale Norton said yesterday on Liberty Island.

The island was sealed off after 9/11 and reopened 100 days later.

But Lady Liberty has remained closed to the public because of safety concerns. After raising nearly $7 million – including a $100,000 boost from Mayor Bloomberg – much-needed safety upgrades will finally be put in place.

“I really am a believer that the private sector has to help in things the government doesn’t have the money for,” the mayor said.

But critics say the federal government should have helped out a long time ago.

“The lack of federal funds for Lady Liberty’s security enhancements is another example of how New York City is getting shortchanged on homeland-security funds,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan).

“Instead of a quick re-opening with federal support, this is almost a three-year wait for public access into Lady Liberty – and only through the aid of private donors.”